Nada Thomson, Director of Development at The Sanctuary Mission has made a large switch from helping to organize people's property to helping to organize their lives. Nada Thomson started out as a Personal Organizer with her own company called Artful Organizers and made the move into helping the poor around 2006.
As a Christian organisation, it is there to assist those members of the community who would otherwise be ignored. The Sanctuary wants to help and support everyone regardless of the colour of your skin or your religion. There are members from a large age range and both men as well as women. The support they supply, helps the thousands of individuals who pass through their doors every year.
The mission has a street outreach team which helps with jail visits, meals prepared by friends, Children's Aid, court visits, as well as helping to get their kids into safe homes. The help does not stop there, the Sanctuary also provides health clinics, support for those who are abusing drugs and rehab for the mind and body. Another thing the organisation does is organise employment training, which can only mean more relevant employment for people.
Each year events are put on to support the Sanctuary and give a sense of belonging to its members with Xmas being a great time for a large feast. The Sanctuary have had a church contribute quite a few Christmas gift bags and they do have talent shows and they do a play � the Screaming Monkeys. Those involved will do a big walk in the warmer months. The events are not just for the people who rely on the mission for help, anyone that contributes is welcome, this way they can see their money is put to good use. One of the primary aims is to break down the barriers between those people who are rich and those that are poor. People, who have been stripped of their self worth, will be given back their sense of pride. Making a difference is more than just donating dollars but also about getting new friends.
We're not here to take the place social services, we're here to work with social services, Thomson tells us. Individuals are regarded as friends and are now living in a property rather than on the street. There is no doubt that without the help of organisations such as the Sanctuary these people would still be on our streets.
One of the better stories of The Sanctuary is that a young female was born and raised in the Toronto area. Not too soon after this child was birthed, she was sent into foster care. This poor baby never stood a chance of a decent life when it started with a family member setting fire to her crib. Cockroaches covered her little body when her grandmother looked in on her one day. One of the worst shocking acts she had to put up with was that of being sexually abused. She bounced from foster home to foster home and relationship to relationship, and she was addicted to many substances. With support from lots of people this lady is now moving forward with her life and has been a regular at the sanctuary for 4 years.
Julie Kinnear is Toronto MLS Listings agent and volunteering activist.
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